to assign / to forgive / to miss
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to assign / award
To allocate or award something (e.g., a prize, a contract, a grade, a task) to someone.
Die Stadt hat den Auftrag für den Bau der neuen Brücke an eine lokale Firma vergeben.
The city awarded the contract for building the new bridge to a local company.
'Vergeben' (to assign / to forgive / to miss) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'geben' (to give) in all sentence forms and tenses.
Die Jury vergibt den Preis morgen Abend.
The jury will award the prize tomorrow evening.
The object of the verb reveals the meaning. 'Einen Auftrag vergeben' (to award a contract) means to assign or allocate, 'einen Fehler vergeben' (to forgive a mistake) means to forgive, and 'eine Chance vergeben' (to miss a chance) means to miss something.
Die Universität vergibt Stipendien an begabte Studierende.
The university awards scholarships to talented students.
When 'vergeben' means 'verzeihen' (to forgive), the person one forgives is always in the dative. The structure is: subject + forgives + [person in the dative] + [thing in the accusative].
Sie konnte ihm seine Lüge nicht vergeben.
She couldn't forgive him for his lie.
In the meaning 'in einer Beziehung sein' (to be in a relationship), almost exclusively the form 'vergeben sein' (to be taken) is used. The verb 'vergeben' alone is not used here.
Er ist seit fünf Jahren glücklich vergeben.
He has been happily taken for five years.
In the meaning 'zuteilen' (to assign), 'vergeben' is often combined with official things. Typical phrases are: 'einen Auftrag vergeben' (to award a contract), 'einen Preis vergeben' (to award a prize), 'eine Note vergeben' (to give a grade), or 'einen Termin vergeben' (to schedule an appointment).
Der Professor hat für die mündliche Prüfung sehr gute Noten vergeben.
The professor gave very good grades for the oral exam.
When it is about losing an opportunity, 'vergeben' is often used with words like 'Chance' (chance), 'Gelegenheit' (opportunity), or 'Möglichkeit' (possibility). In sports, 'einen Elfmeter vergeben' (to miss a penalty) is also common.
Diese einmalige Gelegenheit dürfen wir auf keinen Fall vergeben.
We must not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity under any circumstances.
Similar to relationships, with seats or appointments the form 'vergeben sein' (to be taken/booked) is usually used to express that something is already occupied.
Ich wollte noch eine Karte kaufen, aber es waren schon alle Plätze vergeben.
I wanted to buy another ticket, but all the seats were already taken.
to distribute / spread
'verteilen' and 'vergeben' can both mean that something goes to other people. 'verteilen' fits when several people receive something or when something is brought to different places, for example papers, food, or tasks. 'vergeben' is used more when a position, a prize, a contract, a grade, or a task is officially assigned or awarded. The words can be confused because in both cases someone receives something. 'verteilen' sounds more practical and often more physical; 'vergeben' sounds more targeted or official.
Die Firma vergibt den Auftrag an einen kleinen Betrieb aus der Stadt.
The company awards the contract to a small local business.
Am Wochenende verteilt Yara die neuen Hefte für den Kurs.
At the weekend, Yara distributes the new notebooks for the course.